Fiona Kennedy-Altoft
Fiona completed her Visual Arts degree at QUT in 1993. She is a dedicated artist and art educator . Fiona’s latest series explores the aspects of human behaviour that compare to animals this is done through the use of anthropomorphized hybrids.
Currently Fiona is exhibiting in a solo at the Gold Coast Regional Art Gallery and is now working towards a solo exhibition at Retrospect Galleries on the Gold Coast.
2009 saw Fiona in solo exhibitions at 19 Karen Gallery on the Gold Coast, Chiang Mai Thailand and Robyn Bauer in Brisbane, she was selected as part of the Artist Studio section of the Melbourne Art Fair 09 and Frances Keevil Gallery stand at Sydney Art Fair 09.
She has been selected in the 2011 Prometheus Art Prize and in 2010 Fiona was a finalist in the Caldera, Cricket and Calleen art prizes.
She was the 2007 winner of “Going Public-New and Emerging artists” award at the Town Hall Gallery Melbourne. Finalist in the Stanthorpe Art Prize and won the Scots PGC Art Award.
Fiona is the recipient of three Gold Coast City Council Regional Art Development Grants. Her works are found in collections in England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Italy,Canada and most capital cities of Australia.
Josephine Keay
Josephine Keay (Jo-K) is an award-winning hairstylist, freelance fashion stylist, artist, art director and designer. With more than 20 years experience as an artist, Josephine has exhibited throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Born in New Zealand, Josephine takes her inspiration from her mentor father. “My father Ian Keay was a fashion designer, pattern maker and cutter for Fogel Design. At any spare moment my father would be pushing his paint brush whilst I learnt how to mix colours and witness amazing pictures from my father. So it’s evident my inspiration was from him!”
The sculptural wall hangings are made from what Josephine calls “creative trash”. She paints when she can take advantage of a semi-aware state of mind. “I have been inspired by the fact I rise from my sleep, in the middle of the night and I’m captivated by the stillness and purity of the night. I never paint or create during the day.”
Taking a year to complete, The Masquerade Collection is fashioned using individual papier-mâché masks, recycled paper, resin, fibreglass, crushed eggshells, acrylic and gold leaf. Josephine’s artworks are regularly commissioned pieces that are produced to suit a particular environment and to meet the needs of the client.
Josephine interacts with Interior Designers, Property Developers, Corporate Businesses and the general public. She also works as Art Director in Australian film and television, and is a regular contributor to Australian Vogue magazine stylising photo shoots. Josephine is passionate about wildlife preservation and protection as she is an experienced lawyer working with Bleats Lawyers to prevent the mistreatment animals and volunteers for the RSPCA.